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How to remove Sharpie or crayon marks from polyurethane.

4 years ago

I'm about to finish ornamental handpainting on a chifferobe using acrylic paints. After I'm done, I plan to polyurethane it all for protective purposes, as it will be a gift to a future grandchild. What can I tell the parents to do to remove marks if someday the child uses a Sharpie or crayon on the polyurethane surface?

Featured Answer

Mrs. S

4 years ago

Funny thing, I used to keep the Sharpie pens up high, out of sight, with the matches and fire starters. Little kids don't need permanent markers 99% of their projects.

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Comments (13)

graywings123
4 years ago
There are too many variables here. Let them know what type of poly you used. They can take it from there.
Eleanor Grant thanked graywings123
Olychick
4 years ago
And suggest no crayons or sharpies be used near it, if they will be unsupervised. A hand painted potential heirloom, painted with love by Grandma deserves to be treated with more respect than that.
Eleanor Grant thanked Olychick
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This is from the Sharpie web site - "We do not recommend the Sharpie for letter writing as it is solvent base ink and will soak through paper. We also do not recommend the Sharpie for use on cloth as it may fade or bleed in the wash. Also, over time a yellow halo may appear around the marking." Now wallpaper isn't the same paper as stationery but I'm sure you wouldn't want to discover later that there's a discoloration. But the web site also says that they make different markers for different purposes so perhaps there is one there that will work for you. When we removed the wallpaper from my bedroom we found where the paperhanger had written some notes on the wallboard beneath in pencil. They were still legible after the paper was removed. I'm guessing though that you must have plaster. Maybe Sharpie customer support can advise you.
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Eleanor Grant
Original Author
4 years ago
I was one of those unsupervised children. You have to be ready! Today I am refinishing some of the furniture I ruined. Serves me right! :>D
User
4 years ago
The last time I took sharpie ink off of something it was with alcohol. It was on a finished wooden table top and it worked like a charm.
Eleanor Grant thanked User
lindac92
4 years ago
The last time I took a sharpie mark off of anything ( it was my white leather sofa!!) I used Ronson lighter fluid. Worked like a charm.
Eleanor Grant thanked lindac92
Rose Pekelnicky
4 years ago
Rubbing alcohol will take off sharpie markers. It can be used on oil based polyurethane but NOT on water based.
PRO
1st Choice Custom Painting,llc
4 years ago
Try Goof Off or Awesome
roarah
4 years ago
Rubbing alcohol or hairspray are my go to's.
daisiesandbutterflies
4 years ago
I have used a dry erase marker to remove sharpie marks from dry erase boards and plastics. It might work on polyurethane too.
Philip Schnarr
last year
I have had some success removing very old sharpie marks from a polyurethaned wooden door by using a touch up marker over the black sharpie mark. The new marker ink is a pretty good solvent for the old. Worked better than pure alcohol.
rrah
last year
No idea if it would work a polyed piece, but I've effectively used WD40 to remove crayon marks off walls.
Anne Duke
last year
I’m aware this is an older thread, but tips are always relevant. Try KrudKutter for cleaning walls before painting. Test first, but worked like an eraser for me on pebbled plastic.

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